Our mission: to inspire ecological integrity and improve sustainability of urban landscapes by increasing the understanding of native vegetation in created landscapes. |
|
|
With a vision for the future of a physical facility and center, this year we are a small but passionate team with a thriving native plant nursery and big plans. Your support is needed, whether through donations, membership or conversations in the community!
Our efforts in 2024 will be focused on expansion of native plant propagation and the development of an education curriculum designed to train industry professionals as well as garden enthusiasts in the design, construction and maintenance of native landscapes. |
|
|
|
For over 25 years, Rick Martinson was president and co-owner of WinterCreek Restoration, a landscape/nursery company working exclusively with native plants of central and eastern Oregon. Their work focused on designing and creating ecology-based regenerative landscapes that were self-supporting and provided habitat for a variety of species from birds and mammals to fungi and bacteria.
|
|
|
The concept for the High Desert Horticultural Center was first developed approximately 15 years ago as a collaborative effort with several friends and colleagues at Oregon State University. It was an idea ahead of its time! While the nursery remains a core element of the Center, the vision of the HDHC expands well beyond plant production to train and educate the next generation of native plant professionals and conservationists.
Rick’s previous experience includes work as an ecologist, environmental scientist and archaeologist in a variety of environments around the country, and he used knowledge from those experiences to create award winning landscapes throughout the western United States. He holds a B.S. in Physical Anthropology and a PhD in Horticulture, and specializes in the adaptive physiology of xerophytic species in semi-arid environments. He teaches courses in ecology based design and applied ecology at Oregon State University, and is a frequent guest lecturer for numerous organizations. He is a member of the Natural Areas Association, Society for Ecological Restoration, Oregon Landscape Contractors Association, and other professional societies. He is also a Central Oregon Master Gardener.
|
|
|
Expanded Propagation = Water Conservation |
|
|
Water availability, use, and waste within the Cities of Bend and Redmond has become a main focus of the Departments of Public Works. Earlier this month, the City of Bend launched its Turf Rebate Program , explaining that "low-water use landscapes provide a colorful, biodiverse, and waterwise alternative to traditional lawns [and] save money by reducing landscape water need between 19-44%, depending on the selected plantings.
A key element of creating sustainable landscapes is the use of native plants appropriate for the specific project location. However, the current supply of local native plants can no longer keep up with the demand, and will not meet the expected exponential growth in the industry due to changes in development code and increasing concerns about resource conservation.
The High Desert Horticultural Center is uniquely positioned to meet that need. With your partnership, HDHC’s propagation facility will significantly increase the availability of native plants to consumers in central and eastern Oregon and support a rapidly growing native plant market for homeowners, landscapers, plant brokers and land managers. Your support will facilitate expanded plant availability! Do you own a business? Contact Rick@highdeserthort.org to learn about corporate sponsorship opportunities. |
|
|
WinterCreek Nursery is OPEN |
|
|
Spreading phlox (Phlox diffusa) - Mountain Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) - Mourning cloak butterfly |
|
|
Many thanks to Worthy Garden Club for their past partnership and sale of WinterCreek Nursery to the High Desert Horticultural Center! Nursery Update:
The nursery is off to a busy start this Spring – our seeds are sprouting, water is flowing to our pond, our bunchgrasses are growing, and the plants on the property are already starting to wake up! Many thousands of new baby plants have already been potted up into the sizes on our nursery website availability list, and we have many more on the way from a wide variety of interesting and hard to find native species. We completed some beautification and additional plantings into the display beds in front of our greenhouses (with subterranean gopher cage protection) so they should be even more fantastic than usual this year.
The nursery has hosted a number of different groups for tours, and is especially proud to have welcomed Vamonos Outside’s Camp Chica participants to see our operation and learn more about native pollinators! Though it was a bit early in the season we definitely got to see some interesting bees enjoying the manzanita flowers. We have a number of large grow projects on the books for restoration efforts around Central Oregon later this fall, and are looking forward to further deepening our community engagement this spring and summer with more educational opportunities for native plant enthusiasts!
- Ben Snyder, Nursery Manager |
|
|
Your member contributions help support our nursery operations, public outreach, and educational programs tailored to homeowners, industry professionals, and the general public. In turn, you get great discounts!
Standard membership offers the following benefits. Click here for additional membership options. |
| |
|
High Desert Horticultural Center Membership $75.00
• 10% discount on gift shop purchases
• 10% discount on retail plant purchases
• Early notification of upcoming sales & classes
• 10% ticket discount for education, lectures, and events |
|
|
Come See us at Bend's Earth Day Fair! |
|
|
| 2024 Theme: Planet vs. Plastics Did you know you can bring your used nursery pots to WinterCreek for REUSE? |
|
|
We are thrilled to participate in this years' Earth Day Fair, hosted by The Environmental Center of Bend on Saturday, April 20th from 12-3pm.
Visit our booth and pick up some tips about creating a thriving tiny ecosystem and a complimentary baby plant (while supplies last). We hope to meet you there! |
|
|
Trophic level: the step in a nutritive series, or food chain, of an ecosystem. (Britanica, 2024)
Native plantings attract not only pollinators, but friends of all kinds belonging to various trophic levels. Create mini ecosystems in your yard! |
|
|
Our Contact Information
*{{Organization Name}}*
*{{Organization Address}}*
*{{Organization Phone}}*
*{{Organization Website}}*
*{{Unsubscribe}}* |
| |
|
|
